Kin perform Twisha Sharma's last rites after 2nd autopsy; 3-judge Supreme Court bench to hear case today

BHOPAL: The last rites of former actor-model Twisha Sharma, who was allegedly harassed for dowry, were conducted on Sunday evening in Bhopal. Her brother, Major Harshit Sharma lit the funeral pyre, marking the end of a 12-day ordeal for the family; however, their quest for justice continues. Her mother, Neelam Sharma, staggered through the hundred‑metre stretch from the entrance, her voice breaking into hiccupped sobs that echoed across the cremation ground.

Speaking after his daughter’s cremation, Twisha's father, Navnidhi Sharma said, “We cannot imagine life without Twisha. The support we have received gives us strength, and I am confident justice will be served. This case will stand as an example and help restore people’s trust in the judicial system. I am grateful to the Supreme Court for stepping in on its own to ensure fairness.”

In a press statement released just hours before the cremation, the Sharma family detailed the agony of their long wait, noting that the delay forced them to violate deeply held Hindu traditions, which ordinarily dictate that post-death rituals be completed within a 13-day mourning period.



Also read: Twisha Sharma death case: Cops take custody of husband, will be taken to Bhopal

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the case, with a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi, scheduled to hear it Monday.

The funeral could be made possible after a specialised medical team from AIIMS Delhi conducted a meticulous, second post-mortem at AIIMS Bhopal for nearly three hours, and the procedure focused mainly on preserving evidence and investigating physical injuries that the family alleges were overlooked in the initial local probe.

Doctors examined whether Twisha’s death could be linked to suicide, trauma or intoxication. Standard operating procedures were followed, with viscera samples taken for forensic testing. Three cavities, i.e., stomach, liver, and kidney, were preserved for intoxication analysis. The heart was studied for signs of myocardial infarction, the lungs for poisoning, and the head for clots. Surface bruises and abrasions were measured for depth to assess trauma, according to sources.

Also read: ‘They will bring justice’: Twisha’s father hopeful as AIIMS team reaches Bhopal for 2nd autopsy

Viscera and tissue samples will undergo histopathology and toxicology tests in Delhi. Sources said the first autopsy report will be legally compared with the AIIMS Delhi findings once the samples reach the national capital. Police may also recreate the crime scene to probe allegations of domestic violence, sources said.

Twisha, 33, died under suspicious circumstances at her Katara Hills home on May 12. Her in‑laws claim suicide, while her parents allege murder linked to dowry harassment. The Delhi AIIMS team departed Bhopal after the autopsy and will return Monday with samples and records. The final report will take time, as laboratory tests remain pending, sources said.